Monday, December 09, 2013

This was my first shawl pattern in crescent shape without short rows. I know some people love crescent shape, and yet they feel hesitant to do short rows. So, this time I tried to design without one.

I made 3 samples for this pattern. The first one I made was using Rendezvous Cashmere Lace in Evil Stepsister (purple). Since this is a trial. I made the shawl only using 1 skein (200 yards / 50 gram) and without beads. Although it was only 50 gram skein, but it turned out quite a decent size and I really like how the shawl looked.

Next, I knitted the DK weight version, because I have the same yarn in DK weight and I really wanted to know how it looks like in DK weight. This time I did the smallest size (3 Repeats) because I wanted to use only 2 skeins of DK weight. Also, I used beads.
Before blocking, your hardly saw the beads on the right side, but you can clearly saw them on the wrong side. I tried several possible placement to make it more visible on the right side, but no luck. So, I just hoped that after blocking it would be more visible.

As you can see above photos, the beads were more visible after blocking.
It turned out the same size as the lace weight, and as pretty as the lace weight.
I decided that 2 samples should be enough to showcase the result of this pattern and move on to new design. However, after I published the first clue and saw the spoiler of other people, I had the urge to make another one, and this time I made bigger size using lace weight yarn.

At first I planned to put beads, however, the hole of size 8 beads was too small for the 0.75 mm hook that I had. So, I decided not to use beads. I knitted until second clue, until I saw other people's result with beads in the spoiler thread. I was such in dilemma. Should I bought smaller hook and starting over, or should I continue without beads. I was not afraid of frogging. I just did not want to stop knitting while waiting for my new hook to arrive (yes, I ordered smaller hook online). In the end, my mother in law had a small hook that I wanted, so I borrowed it from her. I restarted my shawl with beads and I was a happy camper.

About the cashmere yarn, it is really soft and heaven to knit with. I really was enjoying knitting with it. The only problem with cashmere yarn is that they are very easy to break. During frogging, you really need to be careful not to snag the yarn. I didn't have a problem during blocking, though.

I read somewhere that cashmere yarn use the fur on the neck or under belly part, which is very soft but it is also very short. That is why it is easy to break.

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About Me

I live on a tropical island called Penang which is one of the states in a country called Malaysia, but it does not stop me from learning how to knit. I knew how to crochet since I was 6 and taught myself to knit about 4 years ago and after a couple of projects, I began designing my own patterns. I just love the process of designing my own patterns, from the imagining of the design to the drawing and even the math part of it. I love to wear something pretty and feminine and it is reflected in all of my designs. I have 2 small daughters that need a lot of attention besides my full time job, so I am happy enough if I can publish 3 patterns a year. My patterns can be found on my blog
and through Etsy and on Ravelry.